Spitzer Bombshell

[Woolen Horde]

Holy crap, he's politically dead.

[Athryn]

Holy crap, he's politically dead.

More info please.

[Nick Walter]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?ref=nyregion

In this country we crucify politicians who get some on the side.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?ref=nyregion

In this country we crucify politicians who get some on the side.

He's the governor. Why is he paying for it?

Troy

[Ed Solomon]

Holy crap, he's politically dead.

What, so only Republicans can visit prostitutes without it ruining their career?

Kidding aside, I don't know if it's the end, but it sure isn't good.

[Woolen Horde]

Spitzer's problem is that he built his entire career--and ran as governor--as being this total law-and-order attorney general who prosecuted almost anything. A high-priced prostitution ring? That's something Bill Clinton might survive, but not Spitzer. Especially not after the scandals he's already suffered this year.

[Hugin]

That's really disappointing. I liked him as the ass kicking Attorney General. Not so great a Governor.

[Bob Cherub]

Wait wait.. I've read QT3 P&R for years and according to you guys, only Republicans get into scandals.

I refuse to believe it.

[BlueJackalope]

Spitzer's problem is that he built his entire career--and ran as governor--as being this total law-and-order attorney general who prosecuted almost anything. A high-priced prostitution ring? That's something Bill Clinton might survive, but not Spitzer. Especially not after the scandals he's already suffered this year.

He prosecuted a couple of high-priced prostitution rings. Hypocracy carries a heavy price.

Weird how wrong everything has gone for him since becoming the Gov.

[Hugin]

Wait wait.. I've read QT3 P&R for years and according to you guys, only Republicans get into scandals.

I refuse to believe it.

I think the difference isn't so much that only Republicans get into sex scandals, it's the Republican sex scandals tend to have higher levels of hypocrisy, because there's more social conservatism built into the Republican platform.

Spitzer built a rep as a law and order guy, and to that extent this is hypocrisy because he broke the law (and apparently went after prostitution rings before). But if he was a Republican (judging by the last few of scandals), it would have been a gay prostitution ring he was involved with, with him railing against gays constantly. Or him playing up family values and the sanctity of the family all the time while cheating on his wife and kids, and paying for prostitute abortions while voting anti-choice.

[Jason McCullough]

Holy crap doesn't begin to cover it.

[Flowers]

I love it. Almost as much as I love getting to use the phrase, "Hoist by his own petard."

His own, hookerfilled, taxpayer-funded, wife-betraying petard. Maybe while he is up in the air, he will gain some perspective on life, and then he can go on Oprah.

[Flowers]

Wait wait.. I've read QT3 P&R for years and according to you guys, only Republicans get into scandals.

I refuse to believe it.


Oh, Bibby. It's just that, whatever politicians complain about, they do. Because they are all closet cases to some extent, in some area of their lives. It's the closet cases who think that they can hide their peculiarities behind rhetoric that decries the same behavior in which they secretly engage. In reality, they are just sending out warning signals to the rest of us, because most of us don't give a shit if two people are gay for each other. I know that I've got too much shit to do, to be worrying about the carryings-on of men who have taken a rock hard oath never to hit on my wife.

I love stuff like this, because I have a joke about hypocrisy in terms of sexual conduct by politicians that I wrote as topical humor, but I swear, every time I think I can stop telling it, another guy goes and sticks his dick right where he told us not to. The Larry Craig/Peniswipe/Fireman part might not stay in, but it's only a matter of time before Dennis Hastert gets caught conducting the 8:30 Mantrain to Muscletown.

[Linoleum]

The Larry Craig/Peniswipe/Fireman part might not stay in, but it's only a matter of time before Dennis Hastert gets caught conducting the 8:30 Mantrain to Muscletown.

Ew, I don't think Hastert could even get in at a bear party.

[Acid]

If he was Republican, it would have been a gay prostitution ring involving choir boys.

[malphigian]

I liked him as the ass kicking Attorney General. Not so great a Governor.
^this.

Also, good news for Bloomberg in 2010.

[BlueJackalope]

Ew, I don't think Hastert could even get in at a bear party.

Wasn't he a wrestling coach? (Closet) Case Closed.

[extarbags]

Wait wait.. I've read QT3 P&R for years and according to you guys, only Republicans get into scandals.

I refuse to believe it.

I dare you to link to even one post here that says that.

[Nick Walter]

I dare you to link to even one post here that says that.

He's exaggerated the position, but there have been posters claiming in all seriousness that they believe Republicans have more scandals, more corruption, and are innately the more hypocritical group.

[Lum]

Yeah. Which is crap.

A regular Democrat, mind you, would probably have weathered being linked to a callgirl (Dick Morris seems to be doing OK!) but Spitzer just showcased how breathtakingly hypocritical he was, which is usually the milieu of social conservative Republican types.

[Hugin]

He's exaggerated the position, but there have been posters claiming in all seriousness that they believe Republicans have more scandals, more corruption, and are innately the more hypocritical group.

I think what we call "scandals" for politicians break down into 3 broad categories.

1. Pure money scandals (sweetheart land or stock deals, bribery to some extent though that edges into category 2).

2. Abuse of power/breach of duty based scandals (these often involve money but the core of them is subverting their duties, this category goes all the way up to stuff like spying and treason).

3. Sex scandals, particularly those that have an obvious hypocrisy/irony angle.


I'd say Democrats and Republicans are equally capable of categories 1 and 2, but I think Republicans are unusually prone to the third type, because the Republican platform is more socially conservative.

[Rimbo]

He's exaggerated the position, but there have been posters claiming in all seriousness that they believe Republicans have more scandals, more corruption, and are innately the more hypocritical group.

I've not only heard this sentiment within QT3, I've heard it outside of it, too.

[Glenn]

Yeah. Which is crap.SAYS YOU. I think the Republican party is generally "more" corrupt, even correcting for their decade-long dominance. I think it has something to do with the fact that one of the core conservative tenets is that the US government is Mammon, and that belief among elected officials does not foster good governance.

The problem is that "more" and "only" are so far apart that conflating the two isn't just exaggeration, it's, well...

Cherubian.

[Ranulf]

I love it. Almost as much as I love getting to use the phrase, "Hoist by his own petard."

His own, hookerfilled, taxpayer-funded, wife-betraying petard. Maybe while he is up in the air, he will gain some perspective on life, and then he can go on Oprah.

You forgot the requisite book deal and the happy photo of him with his wife (or his new younger wife) living happily ever after.

As for the whole republican/democrat scandal thing, which party had the last "gay pol comes out" party before Larry Craig's wide stance? I believe it was a guy from NJ. I view the Spitzer case the same as most of the others in this vein, he's a hypocrite, doubly so for his past as AG apparently, party is irrelevent. They're all corrupt hypocrites.

[Lum]

Spitzer doesn't resign, yet anyway (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_admits_involvement_in.html)

He's going to have to anyway, he's politically dead.

[Linoleum]

SAYS YOU. I think the Republican party is generally "more" corrupt, even correcting for their decade-long dominance. I think it has something to do with the fact that one of the core conservative tenets is that the US government is Mammon, and that belief among elected officials does not foster good governance.

Of course, even here you are weighting the balance by focusing on the federal. The last I checked the majority of city council members/aldermen in various major cities are....well, not Republicans.

[jeffd]

Interestingly enough - this is going to affect the presidential race. OBama gave a speech today where he really smacked Hillary around on all the "commander in chief" bullshit she's been peddling for the past week or so. The networks were all covering it, but cut away for Spitzer.

Likewise, Hillary will get asked by this, seeing as she's a NY state Senator.

[Matthew Gallant]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/03/10/spitzer/t1home.spitzer.presser.ap.jpg
Whatever she's doing to him out of frame looks painful.

[Glenn]

Of course, even here you are weighting the balance by focusing on the federal. The last I checked the majority of city council members/aldermen in various major cities are....well, not Republicans.I'm not going to claim to have any knowledge about city and county officials. Here in California there's generally no declared party affiliation at that level except for the mayor, is that unusual?

[Andrew Mayer]

Maybe he'll just get a standing ovation like Vitter did.

Speaking of equivalence, give me a call when the DNC is involved in a corruption scandal involving it's own members embezzling money after years of intentionally reduced oversight designed to protect them from other scandals

It's not that the Dems are innately better, it's that they don't act like they're innately better. For the most part, they get that if you tear apart the means of governance things are going to fall apart.

[Aeon221]

I like how he's being prosecuted for transporting her. Fuck her, by all means, and shower her in money, but do it in your own state!

[Jason McCullough]

I think there's more Republican scandals for the obvious reasons that they're the party that gets straightforward bribed by business more, and they're a lot more likely to have strange sexual scandals that are only scandals because they hide it - Democrats can quite happily be gay if they want and still run for office.

I have no real evidence to support this, however.

[Tom McNamara]

Criminey, the guy used to bust prostitution rings. Meanwhile, he risked everything for a little professional tail. So you have to ask: What did he know about the market in Washington, and what kept him from not busting those people? Ick.

[Linoleum]

I suspect there are still a fair number of solidly Democratic districts where the constituents aren't quite quite socially progressive enough yet to elect an openly gay candidate in a primary. Not that it would be an open issue in the campaign, they just wouldn't win.

[Rimbo]

I suspect there are still a fair number of solidly Democratic districts where the constituents aren't quite quite socially progressive enough yet to elect an openly gay candidate in a primary. Not that it would be an open issue in the campaign, they just wouldn't win.

http://www.lta.org/images/southeast.gif

Still plenty of folks who haven't forgotten or forgiven Reconstruction.

[Lum]

Puerto Rico: NEVER FORGET

[NoWayJose]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/03/10/spitzer/t1home.spitzer.presser.ap.jpg
Whatever she's doing to him out of frame looks painful.
Well maybe she should have concentrated on things south of the border a little earlier. Also maybe a facelift?

[Matthew Gallant]

I see your troll and raise you a "Maybe he shouldn't have gone bald."

[Skipper]

In this country we crucify politicians who get some on the side.

We do, however, let their wives run for president. So he's got that going for him.

[Skipper]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/03/10/spitzer/t1home.spitzer.presser.ap.jpg
Whatever she's doing to him out of frame looks painful.

She appears to be smiling just a bit at the corners of her mouth. I think she's adding up everything she gets in the divorce.

[NoWayJose]

I see your troll and raise you a "Maybe he shouldn't have gone bald."
So that... he wouldn't have sex with hot hookers?

[Sarkus]

Well maybe she should have concentrated on things south of the border a little earlier. Also maybe a facelift?

Ah, what I always suspected:

NoWayJose=male chauvinist pig

[Rimbo]

Puerto Rico: NEVER FORGET

HAHAHAHAHAH... yeah, whoops. Should've stolen a different pic. :)

[Fooey]

Spitzer is hated across both sides of the aisle in Albany, so he has very little support to fall back on now. He came into office with such total arrogance after his rocket ride from obscure Attorney General to national figure, believing it was just a matter of time before he was president, that he thought he could dictate at will to the state legislature and generally treat them like a complete asshole, and they weren't having it. He famously told one leader of the state assembly that he was a "fucking steamroller" who would crush anyone who got in his way. He tried to strip the state legislature of their role in appointing the successor to the comptroller who got run out of office on corruption charges and when they fought back, he went into the districts of a bunch of democratic state assemblymen and campaigned against them. He was so completely out of control early in his term that he thought he was some kind of half assed Putin, assigning state police to spy on the Republican leader of the state senate. Even his former ally Andrew Cuomo wasn't going along with that one, and he launched a criminal investigation of it.

[Qenan]

Spitzer's problem is that he built his entire career--and ran as governor--as being this total law-and-order attorney general who prosecuted almost anything. A high-priced prostitution ring? That's something Bill Clinton might survive, but not Spitzer. Especially not after the scandals he's already suffered this year.

Yep. Can't say I'm wasting any tears, either. Hypocrisy is corrosive.

[Ben Sones]

he thought he could dictate at will to the state legislature and generally treat them like a complete asshole

Prostitution issue aside, our state legislature deserves to be treated that way. It's a corrupt, dysfunctional mess, on both sides of the aisle.

[JeffL]

http://www.lta.org/images/southeast.gif

Still plenty of folks who haven't forgotten or forgiven Reconstruction.

Add some states like Ohio and PA.

[NoWayJose]

Ah, what I always suspected:

NoWayJose=male chauvinist pig
What, you think he was paying $5000/hr. for hookers because he was having too much sex with his wife?

To be clear: his wife was the wronged party here, no question about that. I'm just saying if guys don't get what they're looking for at home, they're going to look for it elsewhere. I'm sorry if that hurts your feeling. :(

[Sarkus]

What, you think he was paying $5000/hr. for hookers because he was having too much sex with his wife?

To be clear: his wife was the wronged party here, no question about that. I'm just saying if guys don't get what they're looking for at home, they're going to look for it elsewhere. I'm sorry if that hurts your feeling. :(

Only a chauvinist has the first thought that it must be the wife's fault/failure to provide that leads to her husband cheating on her.

Perhaps Spitzer is just a douche? Maybe he secretly doesn't agree with monomgamy? There are many other reasons for infidelity than "the wife didn't do her job sexualy."

[Dirt]

You can wire-tap cell phones?

[Andrew Mayer]

You can wire-tap cell phones?

There's a TV show you need to watch...

[Jonathan Crane]

There's a TV show you need to watch...


When you walk through the garden
You gotta watch your back.
Well, I beg your pardon,
Walk the straight and narrow track.
If you walk with Jesus,
He's gonna save your soul.
You gotta keep the Devil
Way down in the hole.

He's got the fire and the fury
At his command
well you don't have to worry
If you hold on to Jesus' hand.
We'll all be safe from Satan when the thunder rolls
Just gotta help me keep the devil
Way down in the hole.

It is a little hard to imagine the Governor getting caught with some burner phone, but what could he possibly have been thinking?

[NoWayJose]

Only a chauvinist has the first thought that it must be the wife's fault/failure to provide that leads to her husband cheating on her.
Non-chauvinists have this thought as well, whether it's the first thought or the twentieth. Try not to be so closed in your thinking.

Perhaps Spitzer is just a douche? Maybe he secretly doesn't agree with monomgamy? There are many other reasons for infidelity than "the wife didn't do her job sexualy."
Secretly doesn't agree with monogamy? What does that even mean?

[Matthew Gallant]

So that... he wouldn't have sex with hot hookers?
You're totally right. He's coming out of this way ahead. A bald head.

[Sarkus]

Non-chauvinists have this thought as well, whether it's the first thought or the twentieth. Try not to be so closed in your thinking.

I'm the one closed in my thiinking because I don't assume that infidelity is the result of the woman "failing to please her man"?! Keep digging this hole because I'm not the only one here that is eager for you to bury yourself.


Secretly doesn't agree with monogamy? What does that even mean?

As in never intended to live up to his marriage vows but didn't tell his wife that.

[NoWayJose]

I'm the one closed in my thiinking because I don't assume that infidelity is the result of the woman "failing to please her man"?! Keep digging this hole because I'm not the only one here that is eager for you to bury yourself.
This isn't a sport or a game, we're talking about a man's livelihood and public reputation here (not to mention that of his wife - if she divorces him, how eager will any other man be to marry her knowing she has already driven one husband into the arms of prostitutes? She could be labeled the next Hillary Clinton). Don't worry about everyone else, just focus.

Ask any hooker, escort, call-girl, pro, working girl, prostitute, or whore you'd like (I can recommend some if you'd like to pretend you don't know where to find them) what the number one request is from married guys. I'm sure you can already guess, but in case you can't we almost impeached a president for liking it a little too much for his wife's taste.

[Incendiary Lemon]

Keeping it classy, nice.

[Bob Cherub]

aww the poor guys livelihood and public reputation. Boo fucking hoo.

You are messed in the head NoWayJose.

[Ben Sones]

Ask any hooker, escort, call-girl, pro, working girl, prostitute, or whore you'd like (I can recommend some if you'd like to pretend you don't know where to find them)

Looks like it's time to get some popcorn.

[malphigian]

It's a troll-off! Yay!

Anyway, this was pretty funny:
the floor of the New York Stock Exchange erupted in cheers when the news broke.

Those guys really, really hate him.

[Incendiary Lemon]

You cant eat lunch on 35 dollars.

[wildpokerman]

Countdown to the hot hooker Playboy spread....

I can't believe as a former prosecutor he thought that it was somehow safe to do this. I would think he would be completely familiar with wiretaps and investigation methods and how to circumvent them. Also they had a website! How could he think that the investigation wasn't already in place?

Also $5500? How many people can afford that? Will there be more famous clients outed before this is over? I wonder how much of Washington and Wall Street is tossing in their sleep tonight.

[extarbags]

Ah, what I always suspected:

NoWayJose=retarded troll

Fixed.

[Sarkus]

This isn't a sport or a game, we're talking about a man's livelihood and public reputation here (not to mention that of his wife - if she divorces him, how eager will any other man be to marry her knowing she has already driven one husband into the arms of prostitutes? She could be labeled the next Hillary Clinton). Don't worry about everyone else, just focus.

Ask any hooker, escort, call-girl, pro, working girl, prostitute, or whore you'd like (I can recommend some if you'd like to pretend you don't know where to find them) what the number one request is from married guys. I'm sure you can already guess, but in case you can't we almost impeached a president for liking it a little too much for his wife's taste.

I rest my case.

[Flowers]

I don't see anything particularly wrong with fancy hookers. Lord knows if I could be a high priced call-man, I would. So I'm not going to preach. It's good work if you can find it. Street hookers and foreigners trapped in brothels are another ball of wax, and I'm not talking about that. But really, let's be adults. As much as it seems unfair that a man should be able to get his magic inside a lady without having to be witty, or a good dancer, or pretend that she's not insane over the course of two to three evenings, each a week apart, the real problem that everyone has with prostitution is the inherent inequality in bargaining power that leads people to believe that women should not be allowed to commoditize their sexuality for their own good.

To that I say, whatever. I'm sure there's arguments on both sides that I totally don't give a shit about.

And that is precisely why I am so happy. A man who made a big deal about people going to hookers, calling them, "members of a prostitution ring," took a fall for doing exactly that. But then, I'm German, and frankly, I'd put Schadenfreude on my eggs if they sold it at the store. Ohhhh delicious irony, you will have to do. I have sympathy for men who get their lives ruined by prostitution busts, and I have sympathy for the married women who get blindsided by these arrests. A little more honesty from everyone would have probably avoided no small amount of tears. (And rashes!) But the only thing to do at this point is mail hundreds of coupons for RID shampoo to the governor's mansion and hope for the best.


In Re: Sarkus. The lady doth protest too much. Part of promising to only fuck one person for the rest of your life is the understanding that they agree to fuck back. If I refused to talk to my wife ninety percent of the time she opened her mouth, I wouldn't be suprised to find her chatting up a stranger. The same goes for her legs. You're not nine, priests don't know any spells. You don't have to stick to a promise that you made when the other person isn't holding up their end of the bargain just because you made it while you were wearing a fancy outift. Fair's fair, and if she wasn't willing to fuck him, then she can't complain that someone else was.

[Sarkus]

In Re: Sarkus. The lady doth protest too much. Part of promising to only fuck one person for the rest of your life is the understanding that they agree to fuck back. If I refused to talk to my wife ninety percent of the time she opened her mouth, I wouldn't be suprised to find her chatting up a stranger. The same goes for her legs. You're not nine, priests don't know any spells. You don't have to stick to a promise that you made when the other person isn't holding up their end of the bargain just because you made it while you were wearing a fancy outift. Fair's fair, and if she wasn't willing to fuck him, then she can't complain that someone else was.

Except we don't know anything about the relationship between Spitzer and his wife. As far as we know, she willingly did everything he ever wanted. Or are we now just going to assume that it's the woman's fault if her husband hires a hooker?

So, knowing nothing at all, NoWayJose's response was "Well maybe she should have concentrated on things south of the border a little earlier. Also maybe a facelift?" In other words, he's saying it's her fault and she's ugly.

If you want to defend that, then go ahead.

[NoWayJose]

Except we don't know anything about the relationship between Spitzer and his wife. As far as we know, she willingly did everything he ever wanted. Or are we now just going to assume that it's the woman's fault if her husband hires a hooker?

So, knowing nothing at all, NoWayJose's response was "Well maybe she should have concentrated on things south of the border a little earlier. Also maybe a facelift?" In other words, he's saying it's her fault and she's ugly.

If you want to defend that, then go ahead.
Maybe she doesn't care if he's faithful. There's always that possibility.

[Greatatlantic]

Add some states like Ohio and PA.

I think somebody needs brush up on their American history as to where exactly the Reconstruction took place.

[Flowers]

Except we don't know anything about the relationship between Spitzer and his wife. As far as we know, she willingly did everything he ever wanted. Or are we now just going to assume that it's the woman's fault if her husband hires a hooker?


I've always assumed that it's both their faults, seeing as it is a sign of a defective relationship and all.

I don't have to defend things that other people say if I don't feel like it. I was just pointing out that you were playing that sanctity of marriage card a little heavy. You were a bit overly forceful in enforcing a norm in a thread where people are discussing that it's usually the biggest violators who go around talking big about values, vows, and Van Damme.* (I was implying that you were an adulterer for purposes of whimsy.)


*Stupid rule of threes.

[Rimbo]

I think somebody needs brush up on their American history as to where exactly the Reconstruction took place.

He was just confused by the presence of Puerto Rico.

I've always assumed that it's both their faults, seeing as it is a sign of a defective relationship and all.

I don't have to defend things that other people say if I don't feel like it. I was just pointing out that you were playing that sanctity of marriage card a little heavy. You were a bit overly forceful in enforcing a norm in a thread where people are discussing that it's usually the biggest violators who go around talking big about values, vows, and Van Damme.* (I was implying that you were an adulterer for purposes of whimsy.)


*Stupid rule of threes.

Now you've done it.

http://www.toastedpixel.com/comic/clips/dancing/breakin.gif

[Funkula]

You know what's terrifying? I didn't know until just now that he was in Breakin', but I identified it as such by the fact that Turbo is passing in front of him in that gif.

I can recognize Breakin' cast members on sight. That scares the shit out of me.

[Fooey]

I can't believe as a former prosecutor he thought that it was somehow safe to do this. I would think he would be completely familiar with wiretaps and investigation methods and how to circumvent them. Also they had a website! How could he think that the investigation wasn't already in place?


The whole thing actually started as a corruption investigation. The FBI picked up on a bunch of suspicious money transfers by Spitzer and thought he was trying to hide bribes. When they investigated further they discovered that he was actually paying for hookers.

[Midnight Son]

Sing it: "Me and Mrs............ Jones."

http://consumerist.com/assets/resources/2008/03/spitzerlikeswhores.jpg

[drewl]

Prostitution being illegal is even far more ludicrous than making a natural growing weed illegal, however I love it when these self rightous a-holes take the fall.
Do as I say not as I do....
This thing really blew up, it was all over the news outside of NY.

[Machfive]

As someone who thinks prostitution should be legal, taxed, and believes that prostitutes actually serve a societal good, I hope he burns for this one.

There's nothing more delightful then the smell of sauteed hypocrit.

[Rollory]

I think this is the place

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9848/originalfp9.jpg

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/5263/originalho8.jpg

[Bahimiron]

OBama gave a speech today where he really smacked Hillary around on all the "commander in chief" bullshit she's been peddling for the past week or so.

OBama?

Barack O'Bama? He's Irish now?

Anyway, yeah, this may affect the race. Spitzer was a big Hillary backer. I doubt it'll have that much of an impact, though. Last I checked, Hillary's number one backer is also pretty famous for having cheated on his wife multiple times.

I do look forward to seeing Spitzer's wife next week giving a speech at HLS. A lot of people assume she's going to cancel, but I hear she's an ass-kicker and will come just to spite the people who think she won't.

[Mike O'Malley]

Wow? $44k for a DAY?

I'm in the wrong field.

[NoWayJose]

You know what's terrifying? I didn't know until just now that he was in Breakin', but I identified it as such by the fact that Turbo is passing in front of him in that gif.

I can recognize Breakin' cast members on sight. That scares the shit out of me.
I knew it because of Lucinda Dickey.

I didn't even have to imdb her name. :(

[Johan O]

Wow? $44k for a DAY?

I'm in the wrong field.
But are you elegant, erudite and educated anough to be a seven star girl?

[Mike O'Malley]

Buy me a ticket and find out, stud.

[Johan O]

Buy me a ticket and find out, stud.
I'll shave my crotch and wash my beard and I'm there.

[Timemaster Tim]

I can't believe as a former prosecutor he thought that it was somehow safe to do this.

A man's penis will make him do things he later regrets.

[Skipper]

A man's penis will make a him do things he later regrets.

Word. Preach it Tim, preach it.

[VegasRobb]

Always seemed like Spitzer was an example of "The Peter Principle". He was great as a certain point in the chain of command ... not so great above that point.

Anyway, I was glad to see his wife out there supporting him. Will she turn the tables and show up on Oprah like the wife of the guy in NJ? Maybe, and I wouldn't blame her one bit. This whole situation must be happening in slow-motion for her (and probably him).

[Midnight Son]

Damn, that's some high priced snatch! That's crazy.

[Mike O'Malley]

Damn, that's some high priced snatch! That's crazy.

Classy.

[Midnight Son]

Classy.

Classy, like being a whore is classy?

[Rimbo]

Those girls are more expensive than divorce.

[Midnight Son]

Why did the Governor go to the prostitute?

Because his wife is a Spitzer, not a swallower!


There's yer classy!

[Lizard_King]

some deconstruction of the process by which Spitzer was caught (http://www.theseminal.com/2008/03/11/the-spitzer-scandalasking-the-question%e2%80%94the-right-question/).

Interesting. The Wire parallels keep coming up.

[Lum]

So now some people are saying Spitzer is going to try to brazen it out and not resign.

Others are saying he's waiting to cut a deal with prosecutors, offering his resignation in exchange for not being charged. Which has a delicious irony that is so sweet, my teeth will rot.

[Fooey]

some deconstruction of the process by which Spitzer was caught (http://www.theseminal.com/2008/03/11/the-spitzer-scandalasking-the-question%e2%80%94the-right-question/).

Interesting. The Wire parallels keep coming up.

Amazing. Apparently on the loony left there's nothing someone can do, no matter how sordid and how obviously their own fault and of their own doing, that isn't somehow Bush's fault.

[Midnight Son]

Well, he IS Satan, you know.

[Jason McCullough]

Does it strike you as completely outside the bounds of plausibility that the Justice department would be trolling through Spitzer's data on a fishing expedition? This is the Bush administration justice department we're talking about here. They fired lots of prosecutors for not going after Democrats enough on trumped-up political charges and got the Alabama governor chucked in jail on trumped-up charges.

Obviously he did in fact do it, but the context and timeline is a little suspicious.

[Rollory]

Jason, you *never* disappoint.

[Sarkus]

Does it strike you as completely outside the bounds of plausibility that the Justice department would be trolling through Spitzer's data on a fishing expedition?

Who says they were trolling?

From NPR:

"Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation, the official said that Spitzer was the initial target of the investigation, and that he was tracked using court-ordered wiretaps.

Investigators said the public-corruption unit of the U.S. attorney's office got involved after the IRS looked into a complaint of a potential violation of the Bank Secrecy Act, the government's main tool against money laundering."

So, the IRS got a complaint, found something worth investigating, and turned it over the US attorny's office. Then the court ordered the wiretaps.

Unless you can point to a smoking gun that proves this was politically motivated, the only trolling going on here is on your side.

[TomChick]

Sarkus, you might want to give Lizard King's link at the top of the page a quick read. It's not as cut-and-dried as you're making it out to be. We don't know the whole story yet, but based on bits and pieces, it's not hard to infer that there could be some politically motivated things going on at the Office of Public Integrity.

-Tom

[Glenn]

Unless you can point to a smoking gun that proves this was politically motivated, the only trolling going on here is on your side.The statistical evidence is certainly damning.
During the Bush Administration, his Justice Department has opened 5.6 cases against Democrats for every one involving a Republican.

[Jason McCullough]

Never mind, false alarm (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/182948.php).

Spitzer last year had wanted to wire transfer more than $10,000 from his branch to what turned out to be the front for the prostitution ring, QAT Consulting Group, which also uses a number of other names, in New Jersey, the sources said.

But Spitzer had the money broken down into several smaller amounts of less than $10,000 each, apparently to avoid federal regulations requiring the reporting of the transfer of $10,000 or more, the sources said. The regulations are aim to help spot possible illegal business activities, such as fraud or drug deals.

Apparently, having second thoughts about even sending the total amount in this manner, Spitzer then asked that the bank take his name off the wires, the sources said.

Bank officials declined, however, saying that it was improper to do so and in any event, it was too late to do so, because the money already had been sent, the sources said.

The bank, as is required by law, filed an SAR, or Suspicious Activity Report, with the Internal Revenue Service, reporting the transfer of the money that exceeded $10,000, but had been broken down into smaller amounts, the sources said. …

The assumption, the sources said, was that Spitzer was being victimized either by a blackmailer or an impostor. The agents also speculated that perhaps the governor was involved in some sort of political corruption, the sources said.

God, what an idiot. Assuming that's all correct, he might as well have called a press conference at the bank.

[Ed Solomon]

Never mind, false alarm (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/182948.php).



God, what an idiot. Assuming that's all correct, he might as well have called a press conference at the bank.

Yes, this is why Uncle Duke always pays in Krugerrands.

[Sarkus]

Sarkus, you might want to give Lizard King's link at the top of the page a quick read. It's not as cut-and-dried as you're making it out to be. We don't know the whole story yet, but based on bits and pieces, it's not hard to infer that there could be some politically motivated things going on at the Office of Public Integrity.

-Tom

There is a reason I don't rely on blogs for news but rather rely on credible sources like NPR and the New York Times. As Jason's post points out, Spitzer wasn't being watched with a fine tooth comb, with the politically motivated Feds just waiting for any tiny mis-step. He did something very stupid and that led to a legitimate investigation that revealed this sex scandal.

Now, if you are instead going to argue that the Feds are treating this differentlly because they are politically motivated, that's a different issue. It's not "trolling" though.

[TomChick]

In other words, you still can't be bothered to read the article that was linked. :)

-Tom

[Sarkus]

In other words, you still can't be bothered to read the article that was linked. :)

-Tom

No, I read it.

Again, where is the "trolling?" That term, as taken from the normal use like "trolling for fish," implies that the politically motivated Feds were hanging around Spitzer waiting for him to do something they could go after. There is no evidence of that, even in the article, unless you want to call what they did after they identified suspicious behavior "trolling."

Now, you may be referring to the mass investigation the Feds did that happened to catch Spitzer in the act, so to speak, but all evidence we have is that was a part of a legitimate investigation into the prostitution ring.

Jason started this aspect of the discussion and has already decided it was a "false alarm."

Finally, the source you keep pointing to ends his discussion (it's not an article) with these words:

"I actually have to wonder, as I've wondered before, if elected Democrats realize that issues like the US Attorney scandal and warrantless surveillance are not just inside baseball, not just about a debatable difference of opinion on the balance to strike between security and civil rights, but are rather about Republican attempts to lock in one party rule."

I hope your tinfoil hat fits well. :-)

[Nick Walter]

No, I read it.

Again, where is the "trolling?" That term, as taken from the normal use like "trolling for fish," implies that the politically motivated Feds were hanging around Spitzer waiting for him to do something they could go after. There is no evidence of that, even in the article, unless you want to call what they did after they identified suspicious behavior "trolling."

Now, you may be referring to the mass investigation the Feds did that happened to catch Spitzer in the act, so to speak, but all evidence we have is that was a part of a legitimate investigation into the prostitution ring.

Jason started this aspect of the discussion and has already decided it was a "false alarm."

Finally, the source you keep pointing to ends his discussion (it's not an article) with these words:

"I actually have to wonder, as I've wondered before, if elected Democrats realize that issues like the US Attorney scandal and warrantless surveillance are not just inside baseball, not just about a debatable difference of opinion on the balance to strike between security and civil rights, but are rather about Republican attempts to lock in one party rule."

I hope your tinfoil hat fits well. :-)

<grammar nazi>
TRAWL. PEOPLE TRAWL FOR FISH. A TROLL IS A MYTHICAL MONSTER AND UNTIL THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET THERE WAS NO VERB FORM OF TROLL.

SEE HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfQwTQK-0M)
</grammer nazi>

[TomChick]

The article you presume to have read, Sarkus, doesn't say much that you won't also hear on NPR. You know, NPR, one of the respected news media you say you limit yourself to? In fact, reliable source Alan Derschowitz was just on Talk of the Nation saying pretty much the same thing that guy wrote for the Daily Kos. But, of course, I'm sure you know that since you deigned to read the link!

As for what Jason does and doesn't believe, you'll have to take that up with him. I'm just here to point out that the information he posted wasn't trolling. Or trawling.

-Tom

[Sarkus]

<grammar nazi>
TRAWL. PEOPLE TRAWL FOR FISH. A TROLL IS A MYTHICAL MONSTER AND UNTIL THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET THERE WAS NO VERB FORM OF TROLL.

SEE HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfQwTQK-0M)
</grammer nazi>

(embarrassed) My mistake. In that context Jason's use of the term "trolling" doesn't make sense. But, his intent seemed clear, since he used the term "fishing expedition."

[Sarkus]

The article you presume to have read, Sarkus, doesn't say much that you won't also hear on NPR. You know, NPR, one of the respected news media you say you limit yourself to? In fact, reliable source Alan Derschowitz was just on Talk of the Nation saying pretty much the same thing that guy wrote for the Daily Kos. But, of course, I'm sure you know that since you deigned to read the link!

As for what Jason does and doesn't believe, you'll have to take that up with him. I'm just here to point out that the information he posted wasn't trolling. Or trawling.

-Tom

I'm not sure what you're really trying to point out here. LK's article starts off by pointing out, as Jason noted, that this all began when Spitzer tried to transfer money in a way that caught the attention of a bank, who was required to report the irregularity of the situation. That lead to the Feds getting involved. If you want to argue that how they acted after that was politically motivated, fine, because I've never disputed that possibility. Maybe they did go farther than they would have with someone else. Either way, his actions raised legitimate suspicions.

My point has merely been to argue against the suggestion that a blameless Gov. Spitzer was singled out by the Feds who were watching and waiting for a chance to take him down. I expect the Feds to wonder what the governor of a state is up to when he does something as odd as this started out as.

[TomChick]

My point has merely been to argue against the suggestion that a blameless Gov. Spitzer was singled out by the Feds who were watching and waiting for a chance to take him down.

I guess that's a good point to argue against, but you might want to wait for someone to actually make that point first. The Daily Kos writer, Jason McCullough, and Dershowitz on NPR were making the quite reasonable observation that this Administration's DOJ isn't above using the law as a political tool.

When you come back with stuff about how you only read reliable media and we should adjust our tinfoil hats, I can't help but wonder if you've been sleeping for the last five years. Or maybe just voting Republican. :)

-Tom

[Sarkus]

I guess that's a good point to argue against, but you might want to wait for someone to actually make that point first. The Daily Kos writer, Jason McCullough, and Dershowitz on NPR were making the quite reasonable observation that this Administration's DOJ isn't above using the law as a political tool.

I assume by the "Daily Kos writer" you are referring to LK's link above, because when I click on it it leads to something called "The Seminal" and an article by "Red Wind."

Now, as to my point, Jason did say say in his post he was concerned about the timeline and context of the Fed's actions. The implication being what I said above, that the Feds were actively trying to find something on Spitzer before he did anything wrong. Again, the LK link and Jason's later post both make it very clear that Spitzer did something stupid to start this chain of events, before the Feds got involved. If Jason meant something else by his statement, then I apologize for misunderstanding.

When you come back with stuff about how you only read reliable media and we should adjust our tinfoil hats, I can't help but wonder if you've been sleeping for the last five years. Or maybe just voting Republican. :)
-Tom

I'm sorry if I don't consider "The Seminal" to be a reliable source. And that article is where the tin hats are first mentioned and that quote above comes from. I agree the Bush administration has done some nasty things over the last 8 years, but there's a difference between nasty politics and "Republican attempts to lock in one party rule."

[Rimbo]

Besides, the Democrats are doing a perfectly fine job on their own to ensure Republican Party Only Rule. It's not like they need help.

[Stroker Ace]

http://images.shipstore.com/ss/images/min/minendura.jpg

[arctangent]

If Spitzer were a Republican, the Justice Department would, perhaps, upon discovering that Spitzer was not in fact hiding bribes or funding terrorists but was simply exercising his manly urges with a non-male person of the female persuasion, would metaphorically wink and nod and continue onwards with its investigation, sans Elliot. Since Mr. Spitzer is in fact a Democrat, they leak the juicy details to the press and threaten prosecution under an old, little-used and reviled statute. Politics is war without (physical) violence, after all.

[Lizard_King]

I think it's possible for Spitzer to be a hypocritical jackass who did illegal (or at least worthy of investigation) things in pursuit of his women of negotiable virtue AND for there to be some questionable aspects to the investigation into his activities. I would have loved to cite more of a primary source, but none of them seemed as comprehensive, and I don't feel that bias automatically discredits an account if the writer is reasonably up front about it.


Anyways, it's kind of a moot point for now since Spitzer announced his resignation (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/03/ny_gov_eliot_spitzer_resigns.php). I'm sure if there's any substance to hints of impropriety in the investigation he's certainly the man to out them while trying to stay out of jail.

[Jason McCullough]

It's a timeline thing. Before that article came out explaining how Spitzer had triggered federal reporting requirements there was no explanation of how the hell the feds got involved, which made the sequence of events a little suspicious, and god knows we're talking about Bush here.

Add the information linked and suddenly it doesn't look so strange anymore. The miracle of evolving evidence!

I can only hope Democrats give him the David Vitter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter) standing ovation for getting caught whoring at the convention. :)

[Linoleum]

I guess that's a good point to argue against, but you might want to wait for someone to actually make that point first. The Daily Kos writer, Jason McCullough, and Dershowitz on NPR were making the quite reasonable observation that this Administration's DOJ isn't above using the law as a political tool.

While in general that point can be made, in specific with the case of Spitzer, I ask myself the following question:

If he had been a Republican and the DOJ had sat on the IRS report, and it doing so had later leaked would there be outrage and the same folks would be writing the same article only from a different angle? I'd say yes.

Which makes the details of this particular case a poor candidate.

[Peter Olafson]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/troll

See entries 3, 9 and 13-15.

Peter

[Andrew Mayer]

Maybe he should have had Gay Sex, or been a gay male escort.
That seems to allow you to stay in politics in Republican circles.

[Nick Walter]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/troll

See entries 3, 9 and 13-15.

Peter

Apparently I'm the only one that found my little joke funny. But that's okay. I'm laughing so I win :)

[Lum]

I have to say, Eliot Spitzer's wife totally came off better than David Vitter's wife in the Ritual Flagellation Of The Repentant.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/12/nyregion/12spitz5-511.jpg
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/03/10/PH2008031003179.jpg

[Linoleum]

That's because she'll survive the cylon attack and become president.

[Andrew Mayer]

That's because she'll survive the cylon attack and become president.

While Vitter's wife is one of many exactly like her...

[NoWayJose]

Maybe he should have had Gay Sex, or been a gay male escort.
That seems to allow you to stay in politics in Republican circles.
The rumor (or implication based on the wiretaps) is that he was asking for unprotected anal sex.

If this is the case, I withdraw my criticism of his wife's apparent sexual prowess. She gets a pass on that one.

[Lizard_King]

ha ha (http://www.nationalpost.com/documents/Spitzer-document.pdf)

85. On February 14, 2008, at approximately 12:02 TEMEKA RACHELLE LEWIS, a/k/a "Rachelle," the defendant, received a call from "Kristen." During the call, "Kristen" told LEWIS that "he," a reference to Client-9, had left. LEWIS asked "Kristen" what time he got there, and "Kristen" said "15 after . maybe 10." LEWIS asked "Kristen" how she thought the appointment went, and "Kristen" said that she thought it went very well. LEWIS asked "Kristen" how much she collected, and "Kristen" said $4,300. "Kristen" said that she liked him, and that she did not think he was difficult. "Kristen" stated: "I don't think he's difficult. I mean it's just kind of like whatever. . . I'm here for a purpose. I know what my purpose is, I am not a . . moron, you know what I mean, So maybe that's why girls maybe think they're difficult ."

"Kristen" continued: "That's what it is, because you're here for a (purposel. Let's not get it twisted - I know what: I do, you know." LEWIS responded: "You look at it very uniquely, because. no one ever says it that way." LEWIS continued that from what she had been told "he" (believed to be a reference to Client-9) "would ask you to do things that like, you might not think were safe - you know - I mean that . . very basic things. . "Kristen" responded: "I have a way of dealing with that I'd be like listen dude, you really want the sex? . . You know what I mean."

What is "very basic" and unsafe? Is that like the back seat of a volkswagen?

[Jason McCullough]

Uh, is it normal to release wiretap transcripts for someone who hasn't even been indicted?

[Nick Walter]

Amusingly, it looks like someone is using Spitzer tactics on Spitzer. I remember reading a lot a few years ago about how all his big Wall Street victories came not because he indicted Wall Street execs but instead because he kept leaking details to smear them with bad press until they played ball with him.

Of course those articles were all on various investing/market related sites and the Wall Street crowd hated Spitzer with a black and unholy passion for forcing them to clean house, so I don't know how biased those articles were.

[Lizard_King]

Leaks seem to be par for the course in this case.

[Flowers]

Uh, is it normal to release wiretap transcripts for someone who hasn't even been indicted?

Hilarious beats normal like paper beats rock.

[Lum]

ha ha (http://www.nationalpost.com/documents/Spitzer-document.pdf)



What is "very basic" and unsafe? Is that like the back seat of a volkswagen?

Sex without a condom.

[TomChick]

Awesome. So hookers talk like they're in a David Mamet play? Who knew?

-Tom

[Lizard_King]

Sex without a condom.

Insufficiently scandalous, so I'll pass on that interpretation. NWJ's got a start in the right direction, but there's a lot of competition in this field.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

Awesome. So hookers talk like they're in a David Mamet play? Who knew?

-Tom

That's the 1100 dollar hooker.

For 5500 they talk like they're in a Tennessee Williams play.

Price matters.

Troy

[Lum]

Thanks to the intrepid journalism of the New York Times, this thread is no longer useless without pictures. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/nyregion/12cnd-kristen.html)

[BlueJackalope]

Thanks to the intrepid journalism of the New York Times, this thread is no longer useless without pictures. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/nyregion/12cnd-kristen.html)

Notbadatall, not "$1,000 an hour lose my Governership and future shot at the White House" good, but not badatall.

In the affidavit, the woman known by the Emperors Club as Kristen is described as “an American, petite, very pretty brunette, 5 feet 5 inches, and 105 pounds.” She apparently was booked at about $1,000-an-hour, placing her in the middle of the seven-diamond scale by which Emperors prostitutes commanded up to $4,300 an hour.


$4,300 an hour?! Are they Raquel Welch's granddaughters or something?

[Rimbo]

Thanks to the intrepid journalism of the New York Times, this thread is no longer useless without pictures. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/nyregion/12cnd-kristen.html)

You know that the Democratic Party has a long and storied history of this, one that was tarnished under Bill Clinton's reign. I'm glad to see that Spitzer has restored the standards we've come to expect from them.

In other words, I would totally hit it.

[Timemaster Tim]

The thread title can now happily carry a second meaning.

[Jeff Green]

If I could bargain her down about $4250 an hour, I might consider sacrificing my promising career at GFW magazine for this. Well, if I got my wife's permission first.

[Hugin]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0312084kristen1.html

More/better pictures.

[Dirt]

Not all bad. Not all that.

Honestly, she doesn't deserve to be outed.

[TomChick]

Honestly, she doesn't deserve to be outed.

Dude, are you kidding? This chick is going to parlay this whole thing into a frickin' career. Unless by "doesn't deserve", you mean she should have to earn celebrity status with talent, charisma, and hard work, like everyone else.

-Tom

[Glenn]

You know, Tom, there are three female governors. And Sarah Palin of Alaska? Definitely doable.

I'm just saying, it's not too late.

[TomChick]

How is it that this (http://bp0.blogger.com/_tXbZXbFTd-0/RtdxTE5fiOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/giLp8jeAKgs/s1600-h/3fd3_1.JPG) is one of the top three images when you google Sarah Palin's name? Anyway, I'm leaving for Alaska in the morning. Y'all wish me luck and let's hope the feds have her phone wiretapped.

-Tom

EDIT: Hey, wait, she's a Republican. Not a chance.

[Tom McNamara]

Sex without a condom


Insufficiently scandalous, so I'll pass on that interpretation. NWJ's got a start in the right direction, but there's a lot of competition in this field.

To be precise, (http://www.nypost.com/seven/03112008/news/regionalnews/spitzer_has_used_hookers_for_6_years__so_101444.ht m?page=0)


Two law enforcement officials said that "safety" worries expressed by one of the bookers about Client 9 was Spitzer’s preference not to wear a condom during his $4,300 night with the prostitute.


It wasn't the policy of the escort or the escort service. Sounds like he was just being reckless. Obviously a cry for help.

[Linoleum]

Naturally, since this is 2008, the newspapers got their photos from her Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/ninavenetta)

[Damien Falgoust]

EDIT: Hey, wait, she's a Republican. Not a chance.
Tom is Larry David's alter ego?

[JMR]

Dude, are you kidding? This chick is going to parlay this whole thing into a frickin' career.


Yeah, with the Bangbros.

[BlueJackalope]

Tom is Larry David's alter ego?

Yeah, to quote Jeff Garlin, I'd fuck her if she wearing a George Bush mask.

[Jakub]

Beautiful women live in a completely different reality. It seriously looks nothing like the world anyone but, perhaps, a rock star experiences.

[Dirt]

Dude, are you kidding? This chick is going to parlay this whole thing into a frickin' career. Unless by "doesn't deserve", you mean she should have to earn celebrity status with talent, charisma, and hard work, like everyone else.

-Tom

I can't imagine anyone would want the world to know that they suck dick for a living. Otherwise, she could'a just gone into porn.

[Peter Olafson]

Dude, are you kidding? This chick is going to parlay this whole thing into a frickin' career. Unless by "doesn't deserve", you mean she should have to earn celebrity status with talent, charisma, and hard work, like everyone else.

-Tom

And yet these things tend to have a short, predictable arc: exclusive, photo spread, a nondescript CD, an "as told to" book--none of which do much to repair or sustain the image of the celebrity careerist.

Peter

[awdougherty]

I'm gonna hit, and here's how. Bush's tax cuts=larger refund + Bush's stimulus rebate. Keep this up and you just might get my vote away from Obama.

[RepoMan]

Awesome. So hookers talk like they're in a David Mamet play? Who knew?
These particular hookers are in a David Mamet play -- a real-life one.

[RepoMan]

Unless by "doesn't deserve", you mean she should have to earn celebrity status with talent, charisma, and hard work, like everyone else.
Depending on how you look at it, that's exactly what she did.

[JeffL]

You know, for that money I expected her to be jaw dropping amazing hot. She looks like a nice looking babe that you'd see in any bar, etc.

[Dirt]

That's why she's not a 7 star girl.

[Nick Walter]

You know, for that money I expected her to be jaw dropping amazing hot. She looks like a nice looking babe that you'd see in any bar, etc.

Jeff, I'm disappointed in you. A man of your age and experience should know better than to think that you can judge just how fun a night with a girl is going to be by a picture. There's plenty of intangibles that are going to determine whether she is putting on a big dollar worthy show or not. Maybe that's what he was paying for :)

[Timemaster Tim]

So, Spitzer was renting her for her personality? ;-)

[snowcrash22]

So, Spitzer was renting her for her personality? ;-)


What high-end clients pay for may surprise you. For example, according to my ongoing interviews of several hundred sex workers, approximately 40 percent of trades in New York's sex economy fail to include a physical act beyond light petting or kissing. No intercourse, no oral stimulation, etc. That's one helluva conversation. But it's what many clients want. Flush with cash, these elite men routinely turn their prostitute into a second partner or spouse.

http://www.slate.com/id/2186491/

[TomChick]

Yeah, so I'm sure this girl is really broken up over being "outed". (http://thesuperficial.com/2008/03/ashley_alexandra_dupres_music.php)

-Tom

[Dirt]

Sigh. It's such a different culture. There's been a huge scandal going on over in Hong Kong where this stupid Cantonese Canadian actor loved to film his sexual exploits with famous Hong Kong actresses and singers; someone got a hold of these pics and put them on the internet. At this point, all those women's careers are in limbo, if not ruined. 2 of the women that he "conquered" were set to be married to other men, both weddings have been called off. The guy held a media event where he has officially retired from the Hong Kong entertainment business.

I wonder if he'll still show up in The Dark Knight? If he ends up trying to make himself famous in Hollywood, I'm going to set up a website to campaign against his ever being able to find an acting job again.

[Lunch of Kong]

Sigh. It's such a different culture.

I would like to thank Edison Chen for bringing us such nice photos of Gillian Chung and Cecilia Cheung.

[Dirt]

2 words:

Brazilian wax.

[Lizard_King]

http://www.slate.com/id/2186491/

Great article. Thanks.

[deccan]

I wonder if he'll still show up in The Dark Knight? If he ends up trying to make himself famous in Hollywood, I'm going to set up a website to campaign against his ever being able to find an acting job again.

What's your problem with him? The man is a fucking god. Those girls were the ones who took off their clothes in front of his camera. Prim and proper Asians indeed.

[Dirt]

What's your problem with him? The man is a fucking god. Those girls were the ones who took off their clothes in front of his camera. Prim and proper Asians indeed.

My problem is his stupidity. Leaving the pics on his laptop and sending it in to get fixed. He's destroyed lives.

[foogla]

Can we get back to talking about the nice lady? Thanks. :)

[Njal]

My problem is his stupidity. Leaving the pics on his laptop and sending it in to get fixed. He's destroyed lives.

If you're that against stupidity I want to see you do an individual page for everyone on earth, because for every person who says they haven't comitted jaw droppingly stupid acts as an adult, I will show you a liar.

[drewl]

I can't imagine anyone would want the world to know that they suck dick for a living. Otherwise, she could'a just gone into porn.
What the oldest proffession is not the noblest?
better than her have "sucked dick" for a living, looks like a good living too....
I'd like to say 90% of women or wives "suck dick" for a living, but I guess alot of poor saps are stuck with wives who don't.

[Stroker Ace]

^ fail

[Mike O'Malley]

Damn, the misogyny is unending.

[Stroker Ace]

Dupre's just lost a $1M offer from Girls Gone Wild.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1822934020080319?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Apparently they already had some archive footage of her and they are going to sell it instead of the new stuff they'd planned to buy off of her.

[NoWayJose]

What the hell is going on in New York? Now Paterson's admitted to affairs with "multiple women" while he was a state senator, AND that his wife also committed adultery. Yeah, yeah, I know, Americans are too hung up on sex and we're not free thinkers like Europe or whatever, but jesus guys how about a little less fucking around and a little more governing?

PS. I think Paterson should have just said he thought he was sleeping with his wife those times.

[Mordrak]

Yeah, yeah, I know, Americans are too hung up on sex and we're not free thinkers like Europe or whatever, but jesus guys how about a little less fucking around and a little more governing?


Multitasking, can do you dig it?

[AndrewM]

Apparently they already had some archive footage of her and they are going to sell it instead of the new stuff they'd planned to buy off of her.

They need to set up some kind of system that extracts names from news feeds and then cross-references it with their databases of names of people who they have on tape. I'm sure they must have that information sitting around for legal compliance.

[Sarkus]

Dupre's just lost a $1M offer from Girls Gone Wild.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1822934020080319?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Apparently they already had some archive footage of her and they are going to sell it instead of the new stuff they'd planned to buy off of her.

I think she probably lost a lot more than $1m. None of the other offers will stand after this.

[Dirt]

If the videos were taken in 2003 and she's now 22... I'm sure they've verified her birthdate.

[JMR]

You mean to tell me Joe Francis is not rotting in jail?

[Dave Markell]

(various profane and misogynistic rantings)

Tom? I think this is crossing the line. Your call, of course.

[MikeSofaer]

If the videos were taken in 2003 and she's now 22... I'm sure they've verified her birthdate.

Well caught.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/20/dupre.gone.wild.ap/index.html

[teledyne]

Now this is interesting. Take a look at a column (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html) in the Washington Post written last month by Eliot Spitzer, almost a month prior to the Spitzer debacle.


Not only did the Bush administration do nothing to protect consumers, it embarked on an aggressive and unprecedented campaign to prevent states from protecting their residents from the very problems to which the federal government was turning a blind eye.

Let me explain: The administration accomplished this feat through an obscure federal agency called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC has been in existence since the Civil War. Its mission is to ensure the fiscal soundness of national banks. For 140 years, the OCC examined the books of national banks to make sure they were balanced, an important but uncontroversial function. But a few years ago, for the first time in its history, the OCC was used as a tool against consumers.

In 2003, during the height of the predatory lending crisis, the OCC invoked a clause from the 1863 National Bank Act to issue formal opinions preempting all state predatory lending laws, thereby rendering them inoperative. The OCC also promulgated new rules that prevented states from enforcing any of their own consumer protection laws against national banks. The federal government's actions were so egregious and so unprecedented that all 50 state attorneys general, and all 50 state banking superintendents, actively fought the new rules.

But the unanimous opposition of the 50 states did not deter, or even slow, the Bush administration in its goal of protecting the banks. In fact, when my office opened an investigation of possible discrimination in mortgage lending by a number of banks, the OCC filed a federal lawsuit to stop the investigation.

I'm not saying that there's a connection but, it seems awfully like he was prosecuted for going after the Bush administration.

[arctangent]

Now this is interesting. Take a look at a column (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html) in the Washington Post written last month by Eliot Spitzer, almost a month prior to the Spitzer debacle.



I'm not saying that there's a connection but, it seems awfully like he was prosecuted for going after the Bush administration.

Spitzer made a lot of enemies by zealous prosecution and hardball politics, with a dash of megalomania thrown in. He hasn't been prosecuted (yet), though, just forced to resign.

I suspect it was a Thomas Becket kind of thing, with Henry II played by more than one actor.